Strategy Consulting Senior Associate

At Hilb Group, we recognize that our associates are our greatest asset. We promote a service-driven culture of high performance that encourages career and professional development. This in-office position is located in either Cranston, RI, Canton, MA, Mansfield, MA, or Southborough, MA.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive, multiyear benefit strategies for large and complex clients based on organizational goals, workforce needs, financial objectives, industry considerations, and risk tolerance.
• Own and manage the client Roadmap, establishing the annual planning calendar and coordinating all activities throughout the stewardship, pre-renewal, marketing, renewal, open enrollment, implementation, and post-renewal cycle.
• Lead client strategy discussions and provide recommendations related to funding arrangements, plan design, contribution strategy, employee engagement, vendor solutions, compliance, and cost management.
• Manage the annual renewal and marketing process, including setting strategy, preparing requests for proposals, analyzing proposals, negotiating with carriers and vendors, and presenting recommendations to clients.
• Provide strategic consulting for self-funded and complex funding arrangements, including ASO contract terms, administrative fees, network access, discounts, disruption, provider availability, and total cost of care.
• Lead provider network analyses to assess geographic access, employee disruption, network strength, utilization patterns, negotiated discounts, and the potential financial and member impact of network changes.
• Evaluate pharmacy benefit strategies, including integrated and carved-out pharmacy arrangements, PBM contracting, rebate guarantees, formulary management, specialty pharmacy programs, utilization management, and contract terms.
• Advise clients on complex leave and disability programs, including the coordination of federal, state, local, employer-sponsored, and carrier-administered leave benefits.
• Review ancillary benefit contracts and identify provisions that may affect eligibility, coverage, claims, administration, and financial outcomes.
• Apply industry-specific knowledge to evaluate benefit program needs, contract language, workforce considerations, compliance obligations, and specialized plan requirements.
• Lead stop-loss placement and ongoing management, including evaluation of specific and aggregate deductibles, contract basis, lasers, exclusions, aggregating specific provisions, renewal terms, and carrier capabilities.
• Monitor stop-loss performance throughout the plan year, including large claimant activity, reimbursement status, pended or denied claims, disclosure requirements, and potential renewal exposure.
• Review utilization, claims, pharmacy, financial, and large claimant reporting to identify trends, emerging risks, cost drivers, and opportunities for intervention.
• Translate complex financial and clinical data into clear, actionable recommendations for clients and internal teams.
• Partner with Producers to lead client meetings, executive presentations, finalist meetings, and the onboarding of new clients.
• Serve as the primary strategic contact and escalation point for assigned clients, coordinating internal and external resources to resolve complex service, claims, contractual, and administrative issues.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with client executives, Human Resources leaders, finance teams, benefit administrators, carriers, TPAs, PBMs, stop-loss carriers, and other vendor partners.
• Partner with carriers and vendors to improve plan performance, participant outcomes, service delivery, and compliance with plan guidelines and contractual requirements.
• Provide direction on client messaging strategy and review employee benefit communications, enrollment materials, decision-support tools, and other client-facing content.
• Oversee the implementation of benefit program changes, new vendors, funding arrangements, and administrative solutions.
• Advise clients on applicable benefit compliance requirements and coordinate with internal compliance resources on matters including ACA reporting, PCORI fees, ERISA requirements, DOL audits, and other regulatory obligations.
• Maintain current knowledge of market trends, benchmarking, legislation, compliance requirements, analytics, emerging vendor solutions, and industry developments.
• Provide guidance, technical support, and training to Consultants, Account Managers, Client Care Specialists, and other client service team members.
• Mentor junior consulting staff and support their professional development, client management skills, and technical knowledge.
• Delegate responsibilities appropriately and provide clear expectations, oversight, and feedback to ensure timely and accurate completion of client deliverables.
• Document meeting outcomes, recommendations, decisions, and required follow-up after renewal and other significant client meetings.
• Participate in market meetings, client functions, industry seminars, and professional development programs as needed.
• Perform additional duties and strategic projects as assigned.
• Travel as needed, including occasional overnight travel.
• Conduct meetings outside standard business hours when reasonably required by client needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, healthcare administration, human resources, or a related field preferred.
• L&H license certification.
• Seven or more years of employee benefits experience within a brokerage, consulting, carrier, TPA, PBM, or related environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, complex, and preferably self-funded clients.
• Strong knowledge of self-funded medical plans, ASO arrangements, provider networks, pharmacy benefits, ancillary benefits, stop-loss coverage, and complex leave programs.
• Experience leading benefit renewals, carrier and vendor marketing, financial analysis, contract review, negotiation, and implementation.
• Ability to interpret complex carrier, ASO, PBM, stop-loss, and ancillary contract language and explain its financial and operational implications to clients.
• Strong understanding of the unique benefit needs and contractual considerations associated with specialized industries and diverse employee populations.
• Proven ability to develop strategic recommendations using claims, utilization, financial, pharmacy, network, and benchmarking data.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to establish timelines, coordinate multiple stakeholders, manage competing priorities, and execute deliverables accurately and on schedule.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex client relationships in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills with the ability to guide and develop junior team members.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong judgment, resourcefulness, attention to detail, and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to work independently, make sound decisions, and perform effectively under pressure.
• Ability to collaborate effectively as both a team member and a team leader.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Benefits

• Compensation: $200,000-$220,000/yr.
• Company Paid Life Insurance, Long-Term and Short-Term Disability.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and FSA/HSA plans.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Additional voluntary benefits including Critical Illness, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity and Supplemental Life Insurance, Legal and Identity Protection, and Pet benefits.
• Generous PTO.